The Note: And Don't Forget Health Care, Part IV

April 13, 2006

Page 6 of 8

1. "The decision by Paul Bremer to go from a liberation model to an occupation model in June 2003 was a major mistake (Gingrich first said this publicly in December 2003)."

2. "The United States needs to train the Iraqis as rapidly as possible and 'pull back' from the cities to bases and air fields and serve as reinforcers as opposed to occupiers (this position is outlined in today's WSJ as the official policy)."

3. "The United States is likely to need to keep some forces in Iraq for a very long time (Gingrich has been saying this as far back in 2003)."

An editorial in "Investor's Business Daily" looks at Gingrich's recent Iraq comments and asks: "So what was Newt Gingrich thinking?" LINK

The New York Sun's Josh Gerstein also takes Note of Gingrich's criticism of the Administration on Iraq. LINK

Tyler Whitley of the Richmond Times-Dispatch writes that Sen. George Allen (R-VA) officially announced yesterday he's running… for the Senate. Not surprisingly, Sen. Allen made no guarantee that he'd serve out the entire six-year term. LINK

The Washington Post's Michael Shear easily shifts from his Warner coverage to Sen. Allen's reelect announcement and Notes the refusal to rule-out leaving the job before his second term expires, should he win reelection. LINK

Gov. Pataki's plan to cut $2 million from New York's budget may mean vetoing tax cuts, reports the New York Times. LINK

The New York Times' Patrick Healy gets a preview of a new (and unflattering) documentary critical of Rudy Giuliani, "the leader who has been raised to secular sainthood." LINK

In case you had any doubt who the Republican Party sees as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in 2008, just take a look at the White House, RNC, and Hastert releases prebutting Sen. Clinton's speech yesterday.

The Washington Post's Dan Balz writes that Sen. Clinton presented herself "as a problem-solver, stressing cooperation between business and government, calling for reduced partisanship in Washington and even quoting former President Ronald Reagan approvingly about driving down the deficit." LINK

"Mrs. Clinton did not, in her 57-minute speech to the Economic Club of Chicago, assail President Bush by name. Indeed, Mrs. Clinton repeatedly emphasized her conservative credentials and alliances, and she blamed the sharp partisan fighting in Washington for dissuading business leaders from working with government," writes Anne Kornblut of the New York Times. LINK

Rick Pearson of the Chicago Tribune provides readers with a comprehensive report on Sen. Clinton's speech yesterday, Noting that "she did not discuss any presidential ambitions despite a heavy national media presence." LINK

Per Pearson, "Asked after her 55-minute address whether the audience would see a female president in their lifetime, she replied: 'Well, I hope so.'"

The New York Times' McIntire and Hernandez write up the mutually beneficial relationship between Sen. Clinton and upstate New York's glass powerhouse Corning Inc. LINK

The story leaves out two key factors that may have helped open the door to this Senator/corporation contribution/constituent service relationship: